US troops in Afghan gun battle

A United States soldier has been killed and two others wounded in heavy fighting in south-eastern Afghanistan, the US military says.

Five US soldiers have died in Afghanistan since August

"The soldiers were engaged in a combat manoeuvre against anti-coalition soldiers," US Colonel Rodney Davis told journalists at the Bagram air base on Tuesday.

He said two enemy fighters had been killed in the exchange, which happened on Monday near the town of Shkin in Paktika Province.

US forces have been engaged in a number of operations in recent months against suspected Taleban fighters who have vowed to regain power in Afghanistan.

Regular rocket attacks

The name of the dead soldier has been withheld, pending notification of his family.

The US base at Shkin has repeatedly come under rocket attack, and two US soldiers died there battling suspected Taleban gunmen on 31 August.

Colonel Davis had earlier described Shkin as "the most evil place in Afghanistan" because more US-led coalition soldiers have lost their lives there than anywhere else in the country.

Afghan officials say Taleban fighters have seized control of the neighbouring border district of Barmal, and are using it to launch attacks.

Five US soldiers have died in Afghanistan since August this year.